Moscow against imposing of no-fly zone over Syria

August 18, 2012, 13:18 UTC+3Moscow is against imposing of a no-fly zone over Syria, believing it is a violation of the country's sovereignty

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MOSCOW, August 18 (Itar-Tass) —— Moscow is against imposing of a no-fly zone over Syria, believing it is a violation of the country's sovereignty, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in an interview with Sky News Arabia Television.

"It would be a violation of the Syrian territory sovereignty," the minister noted.

Lavrov urged his Western colleagues not to bury the agreements concluded in Geneva on June 30.

The Russian minister believes the statements of Washington and other Western capitals that the Geneva communique has died are irresponsible. It is the most important agreement achieved with the participation of Western countries, Russia, China, Turkey and Arab states, he stressed.

The veto of Moscow and Beijing on the Western drafts of U.N. Security Council resolutions is explained by the commitment to the U.N. principles of respect for sovereignty of other states' territories and non-interference in internal affairs of countries.

"We want their (Syrians') fate to be eased. It is necessary to reach agreements," he said. There are special mechanisms and instruments for this, he added. There is U.N. Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, there is the Syrian government's consent to address the issues, there is the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, which is ready to provide assistance to people who are in refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan and other countries, the minister noted.